Commentary: Dolly Parton gave Appalachian women permission to reach beyond the stereotypes we were given.
Registration is now open for our upcoming webinar: Rural Community Resourcing Strategies on September 9th
Madeline Matson and Taneum Fotheringill traveled to Granite Falls, Minn., to host Rural Assembly Everywhere live from The YES! House, in partnership with the Department of Public Transformation (DoPT). The conversation below is a reflection on their experience hosting live, participating in an open mic night, and celebrating the hundreds of people who joined together to uplift our rural communities across the country during Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026.
Thank you to our partners at the Daily Yonder for publishing this piece about Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026. To join
Rural Assembly Everywhere 2026 features more than 30 site partners hosting local events in 21 states.
At seven, Madeline Matson loved being the youngest rug hooker among the self-proclaimed “Happy Hookers.” Decades later, a gathering of women in craft brought back familiar fun, warmth, and connection.
